Should Ontario students learn how to sew? To change a tire? The Ford government wants your opinion

Should students be taught how to change a flat tire, replace windshield wiper blades, do a load of laundry or apply bandages? That’s what the Ontario government educators and parents as it revamps the hands-on skills kids learn in school. “Our government will continue to support all students in our schools to achieve their full potential by making the investments and modernization they need to learn the life, job and critical thinking skills to succeed,” said Education Minister Jill Dunlop. “This includes bringing back a new home economics course that infuses life skills like cooking, nutrition and first aid.

” The survey has been sent to school boards and educators and is for parents and students. Last May, then-education minister Stephen Lecce announced that included modernized home economics classes, and promised to launch consultations this fall. In an email to school boards last week, the government says it wants to know “what practical life skills you think are important and that students should learn in school.



Many important skills are already part of the Ontario curriculum in elementary and high school.” The survey asks for input on personal health and safety skills, asking how important it is for students to know “first aid and emergency preparedness (for example, wound care, emergency kit preparation)” and food preparation such as “chopping food, safely cooking meat” as well as learning how to read food labels, plan nutritious meals or about good sleep habits. When it comes to household management, the government lists “bicycle maintenance and repair .

.. fixing a flat tire, oiling bicycle chains” as well as “car maintenance and repair .

.. changing a tire, topping up fluids in a car, changing windshield wiper blades” as possible options.

“Clothing maintenance” includes “washing clothes, sewing buttons, sewing hems,” and other household skills such as “using cleaning products, fixing a leaky tap, replacing caulking, using wall anchors in drywall.” The education ministry also asks about the importance of communication skills in talking to a landlord or learning to divvy up chores in a household. As for time management, the survey suggests teens could learn “effective and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools” and how to use a digital planner for tasks.

The government is seeking input until Oct. 1, and said those listed in the survey are not a “complete or final list of life skills.”.